Briscoe ready to deal with Hull’s pressure
IT is not often the durable Scott Taylor misses a game for Hull FC so it is no surprise he is itching to get back into action against Leeds Rhinos today.
The England prop sat out last week’s 54-18 home defeat to Salford Red Devils due to a quad injury suffered in the previous week’s 22-22 draw at Warrington.
However, he returns for this Good Friday meeting as the Airlie Birds, who had gone five matches unbeaten before being vanquished by his former side Salford, look for an immediate response.
Taylor, 26, said: “I’m definitely desperate to get straight back in.
“I don’t miss many games. I think I only missed one for Hull last year and that was St Helens in the match after the Challenge Cup final win which was a rest not injury.
“The way the injury panned out, if it’d been a Grand Final last week I’d probably have played but it wasn’t and I didn’t want to make it worse.
“If I got a tear I could have been off for four weeks so it was not worth it.
“Seeing the boys lose like that, though… I hate watching from the stands and it was a nightmare seeing that.
“But it is what it is. The lads who came in gave it a dig while fair play to Salford.
“I don’t want to be watching another game from the stands, though.”
Hull should be further strengthened by the return of captain Gareth Ellis and prolific half-back Albert Kelly as they contemplate their first Easter in 10 years without facing derby rivals Hull KR.
“That will be strange,” admitted Taylor, who started his career with the Robins.
“It’s a big loss (after Rovers’ relegation). It’s a game I absolutely love playing in but Leeds are a great team and they did the double on us last year, the only team to do so.
“We definitely owe them one and we need to step up against them as they’ve won here for the last few years now, too.
“It’s a big match for us either way and they’re playing well so it is going to be a tough game.”
Indeed, Leeds have won each of their last six meetings with Hull, including four successive victories at the KCOM Stadium.
The last time FC defeated their Yorkshire rivals was a 24-19 home win in September, 2014.
Coach Lee Radford said: “You need no motivation to get up for Leeds.
“They’re a big club and a really successful one; we know how tough it will be.” LEEDS RHINOS winger Tom Briscoe knows his former side Hull FC will target him today expecting the former England international to be vulnerable.
Briscoe, who scored 90 tries in 148 games for the Airlie Birds before moving to Headingley in 2014, came under plenty of pressure in the 25-14 loss to Warrington Wolves last week.
Declan Patton and Kurt Gidley targeted Rhinos’ right side with their kicking game in a ploy that clearly helped end Leeds’ fourmatch winning run.
“Obviously, there were a couple of tries down there,” admitted Briscoe.
“Hull will be looking at the video and will have seen that.
“It’s down to me to be a little bit better in those areas and do as much as I can to stop those tries.
“I know from being involved with Hull this is always a game they get revved up for and they really look forward to putting in a good performance.
“The atmosphere and the crowd there is great, they have great support and I always enjoy going back there.”
Hull are fourth in Super League, one point and a place behind Leeds, but have a game in hand.
Obviously, that makes today’s match all the more important as Rhinos aim for a maximum haul over Easter – they host Widnes Vikings on Monday – to bolster hopes of challenging again.
Briscoe, 27, said: “It is a tough period. Within two weeks you’ve got four games. We’ve got one in the Challenge Cup so there’s not as many points up for grabs for us, but it makes or breaks teams’ seasons.
“We’ll have a better understanding of how the table will look after the next two weeks.”
Leeds include Australian prop Keith Galloway for the first time since suffering an Achilles injury last September while second-row Stevie Ward also returns.
Former England back-row Carl Ablett drops out with a knee injury and centre Jimmy Keinhorst (hand) faces three months out.